SpamPup,

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MIDI files are basically instructions that tell the computer to play electronic notes.  What happens when you play the MIDI files without the Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synthesizer?  Could this be the root of the problem?

I have observed the same problem playing back MIDI files on my Inspiron 9100. These MIDI files play fine on my Home Workstatation running windows XP and the Microsoft Wavetable Synth, but on the Inspiron I always observe variations in temp and volume.

Thanks for the reply, Bob

I don't think the Wavetable Synth is the problem, because other systems I've tried use it as the default for MIDI playback. Also, unlike some other systems I've used, my 5150 does not have any other options other than the MS Wavetable Synth that can be chosen. MIDI can be played back on my system using Windows Media Player and Real Player, and those have built in MIDI codecs, I believe. The same problem occurs on both.

See the next post... Is there a problem with MIDI playback in Dell Laptops in general? I can find no reference to the irregular playback problem on the net (Google, etc.) no matter how I search!

I would really like to fix this problem!

Thanks!

Ken

Ken and theden,

There was a member who participated in this thread:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_audedit&message.id=936

named pranaearth, who is a MIDI troubleshooter. Try posting on that thread and change the subject line to something to attract his attention. He (or she) doesn't visit the forum often, but he should receive the email notification from Dell.

Also try a new post on the Audio Editing and Production board. Be sure to mention that you already posted on the Inspiron board as some of those folks are prickly about posting on the 'right' board.

I have not seen a lot of posts listing MIDI playback as a problem. I have an 1100 and besides the Microsoft wavetable, I have the Roland Sound Canvas software synth and some other synths in Sonar, and an external Soundblaster card has its own general midi synth board. They all work which is good because I don't have a clue on correcting timing errors. My guess, for what its worth, is that there's is a problem with the software and it needs to be reloaded.

Luck, Jim

I use the same application software for both my home work station and on the Dell Portable, but the tempo variation occurs only on the portable for exactly the same file. Also the Microsoft Synth filter driver is the same one (right down to the version number), so either the problem is with the software drivers or the audio hardware. Note that I do not see the problem playing other mp3 or wav files, it is only MIDI playback that has the problem.

Will try posting on the other forum.

-thanks
Theden

Theden,

This is a link to where you can download a demo of Roland's VSC soft synth. I haven't tried to download this, but if you could get it working on your laptop you could eliminate the hardware synth. Might help pin down the problem area.

http://www.edirol.it/europe/demo.asp?id=12&la=UK

Jim

Interesting article on this problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=835730

Now to figure out how to get the hotfix.

Theden,

I obtained the Hotfix from Microsoft...

It didn't work (that is, it installed properly as far as I can tell, but there is no change in the slow, irregular MIDI playback).

Back to square one?

Thanks for the link to the Knowledge Base article. I really thought I had the problem licked with the Hotfix!

Ken

Bummer, sorry it did not work. Sorry it did not work for me too. Will keep looking.

-Theden.

The problem is more of a Application problem than anything else. I played the MIDI file using ITunes software and the timings were perfect (ofcourse the sounds were not so great).

Atleast I know that hte problem is not inherent with the hardware or the operating system, it could just be the Microsoft Synth that does badly with Windows supporting hyperthreading (with hyperthreading on or off)

-Ashwin

I believe the problem might lie in that when Hyperthreading is enabled on a system it allows more resource sharing by the processor. I've been surfing around, and it seems that users of various aftermarket MIDI and music editing programs sometimes experience playback and timing problems on computers using Hyperthreading.

I don't understand the concept much, but I believe a standard processor allows a fixed number of "Interrupt Request" slots (11?), and when Hyperthreading is enabled there are a lot more available (24?).

Some people can apparently solve the problem by ensuring that their audio hardware drivers do not require shared IRQ's, but I haven't a clue how to rearrange my IRQ's! From what I understand (not much, obviously), solving IRQ conflicts can be a nightmare!

On my system the Audio (SigmaTel C-Major) shares IRQ 17 with my modem and my Network adaptor... see below:

 

[Conflicts/Sharing] 

Resource  Device

I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7  PCI bus 
I/O Port 0x00000000-0x00000CF7  Direct memory access controller
 
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF  Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM Processor to AGP Controller
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF  NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 

IRQ 16 Intel (R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller
IRQ 16 Texas Instruments PCI-4510 CardBus Controller
IRQ 16 Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

Memory Address 0xFC000000-0xFDFFFFFF Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM Processor to AGP Controller
Memory Address 0xFC000000-0xFDFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200

IRQ 17 Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
IRQ 17 SigmaTel C-Major Audio
IRQ 17 Conexant D480 MDC V.9x Modem

Memory Address 0xD0000000-0xDFFFFFFF Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM Processor to AGP Controller
Memory Address 0xD0000000-0xDFFFFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200

Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF PCI bus
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM Processor to AGP Controller
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200

I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME/PM Processor to AGP Controller
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200

 

I wouldn't be suprised that the processor sharing, which wouldn't be possible (?) if Hyperthreading wasn't enabled

is the root of the problem.

Can anyone make heads or tails of this?

I've been reading this with interest. I'm a musician and I used Cubase and Cakewalk on my old Compaq, but none of my midi files will play properly on my Inspiron 5150 P4 3.2 Ghz HT.

The timing stutters when using my old version of Cakewalk, but I downloaded the demo of the much newer Cubase SX and it had the exact same problems.  I haven't even got as far as trying to record some live guitar and vocals!

The IT guy at my work suggested turning off Hyper Threading, which made absolutely no difference at all.  I know the on board audio isn't the best system, but surely it can handle general midi, which has to be 20 years old?!

I hoped the problem might be solved in service pack 2, and I just upgraded to media player 10, but I just keep getting the same clattering nonsense.  I know that there are different formats of midi file, could that make a difference?

Thanks for any tips....